I had a job offer last fall in that area last fall, beer distribution doesn't seen to be a strengths, Bemidji brewing seems to get good reviews. If I didn't have a wife who isn't real cold Hardy I probably would've moved there because it is an amazing area. You can always stockpile and homebrew
Off-Sale: Yes as stated beer distribution is lacking...but much better than a few years ago. Still just to cite a few examples you cannot get Saga 12 packs, Schell Hefe at all, and I still see Widmer Drifter on the shelves while their new APA has been out for at least three months....with that said there are plenty of good beers to find....just not close to what is available in Brainerd let along the Twin Cities....it's odd because Bernitz distributes a lot of the micro products in both cities but the Bemidji end is really lacking in comparison to Brainerd..What can you find? Deschuttes, Bells, Lake Superior (although I am guessing a lot of it is old), and some of the Schells line....most everything from Summit just not in 12 packs....Third Street brewhouse....Leinie's Big Eddy....a few others like New Belgium, Goose, etc......When buying beer in Bemidji off-sale I often find myself standing around trying to decide what to get but not like I do in the TC when I just can't pick what to go with and not spend $200...here I just am trying to find something interesting....I buy a lot of beer out of town and don't mess with it in the Bemidji area-spanning to Grand Rapids, etc.....Brainerd is better....west of Bemidji is worse until you hit Grand Forks.....East of Bemidji is worse until you hit Duluth. Rating(1-10)=4.5 Draft Options at Bars: From my experiences pretty limited....you'll find Summit Seasonals, and of course the always great Leinie seasonal line so you won't miss out on their ofest...Two Hearted I've seen at a few places....some Deschuttes....and the others you would expect. Rating=4 Brew Pubs. etc: Four in the 100 miles area.....Rating=6 Leech Lake in Walker apparently sells a lot of beer but i have been burned more than once with "off" beers...plus they show no originality with the same hops (fuggles) in every damn beer.....I've seen them pass off some bad batches of beer as 'sour" offerings...Had one of them at the brewery once and it was awful......people don't know better up here though...I've had several of their beers at the brewery that tasted sour or off....give them a shot but don't expect much.. Rating=3 Brainerd Brewing contract brews somewhere....Lake Superior I think....well below average beer....avoid.. Rating=1 Jackpine Brewing in Brainerd is pretty solid but only available in the Brainerd area for now....not real assertive but well done beers that are very drinkable....better than some of the brewpubs/breweries sprouting up in the TC that I have been to. Rating=7 Bemidji Brewing: The crown jewel of the whole beer scene in the Bemidji area...Just opened their own brewery/tasting room in downtown Bemidji after basically brewing for one bar in town for a year.....ALL their beers have been legit. They have not done any big beers yet but their IPA is on par with just about anything you will drink.....their porter is really good as well....cool place too......only open two days a week...(Fri-Sat) for now but I've been to almost all the new brewery taprrooms in the state and this is well done and really something for Bemidji to be proud of....Anytime in town I will be getting two growlers from this place..Rating=9 Hope this helps....anything else you need just ask...
By far the best off sale beer store I've seen around the Bemidji area is Beehive Liquors. They're slightly out of town but they do have a decent selection. Still nothing crazy, but when I was there they had tons of Tyranena, Big Wood, Lagunitas, etc., as well as some good bombers. Had some pretty good New Holland beers too, including oak aged hatter. They do occasionally get Surly as well. http://www.beehiveliquors.com/
Beehive used to be ok but now if in town I would shop at Noels, Northern Liquor, or either of the Bemidji Municipals....I used to make special trips to Beehive but now they get very little anyone else doesn't get and a lot of their beer is old....old....old.....I don't go there anymore and I am in Bemidji a lot...
Yeah a few years back it was a good option...they seem to have lost their commitment to craft beers in my opinion
When I stopped in this past week the employee working seemed to have a very good knowledge about craft beer. Was fun talking to him. He kept apologizing because of how much the selection was cleaned out from Wefest
They do have one guy who knows his beers but unfortunately their overall commitment (not his call) is weak now. haven't been there in a couple months but doubt it has changed,,,
